Kolo Toure’s brilliant comments on Celtic in new interview

Add as preferred source on Google

Former Celtic defender Kolo Toure has revealed he knew that Celtic would go unbeaten in the 2016/17 season.

Toure also went unbeaten in the 2003/04 Premier League with Arsenal, making him a historic player for having gone unbeaten in two separate seasons with Celtic and Arsenal, an incredible feat which neither side has since been able to replicate.

Toure joined Celtic in July 2016, having played for Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool. The Northern Irishman’s relationship with Toure clearly played a vital part in his signing for Celtic.

Toure was not offered a new playing deal at Celtic the following summer and retired. He did join the Celtic coaching staff in September 2017 but left for Leicester City with Rodgers in February 2019.

In Toure’s one season at the Hoops, he was a great servant and contributed greatly, playing 17 games that year. However, as the season went on, it became clear that it was the last year of his playing career.

As the season went on, Toure’s appearances were limited, only making one after January in the Scottish Cup against Inverness. Toure will go down in Celtic history for having contributed to a historic and unprecedented season, and it’s clear that he has fond memories of his time at Celtic.

Toure said: [Talksport], “Brendan always did like Celtic. The way we left to come to Leicester, he always had that on him. I think when he had the chance to go back there, and see the guys there. They did like him a lot too, that’s why he really went there. He loved that club, he was also speaking so highly about Celtic.

“Fantastic (on his time at Celtic). Glasgow was a great place, and we were playing really good football. We went invincible there as well, a full season without losing a game. Which was special. I remember that at the start of the season a journalist asked me ‘do you think you can do the Invincible in Celtic too’ and I said ‘yeah, there is a possibility’ and he was laughing. And then it happened and I was surprised again, I was like ‘Wow, we did it’.

“We had a really good time and Brendan is a very good manager, great coach with good detail. His organisation is very good.”

It’s clear that the influence of Toure’s time with Rodgers at Celtic and Liverpool has had a significant impact on his career as a player and later in going into management. This highlights the level of manager Celtic currently has in Rodgers.

Toure, who has played for managerial greats like Arsene Wenger and Roberto Mancini, speaks with such admiration about Rodgers and the time the two have spent together. This shows the positive memories they’ve made together and the lasting impact Rodgers left on Toure, despite the former Ivory Coast international already having an incredible career before playing for Rodgers.